DCED Secretary Visits Downtown Indiana

Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Rick Siger recently joined local leaders in touring small businesses in Downtown Indiana, Indiana County.  The tour was to help highlight Governor Josh Shapiro’s Main Street Matters program, which supports main streets, downtown business districts, small businesses, and local communities across Pennsylvania.

“Governor Shapiro’s $25 million investment in the Main Street Matters program will give communities, like Indiana, the resources they need to create resilient main streets where people want to live, visit, and work,” said DCED Secretary Rick Siger. “This focus on strong communities and small businesses is essential, as Pennsylvania faces more competition than ever in attracting and retaining new residents and businesses. The Governor’s call for $25 million for the Main Street Matters program is an investment that our Pennsylvania communities deserve.”

During his visit to Indiana, Secretary Siger and local leaders visited with owners and employees of the Philly Street Candle Bar, The 700 Shop, HobbySpeed, Book Nook, and Dan Smith Candies.

“We are honored to have Secretary Siger visit our extraordinary historic downtown and spend time with our wonderful businesses to discuss the efforts by Governor Shapiro to invest in business districts such as ours,” said Sam Kenly, Executive Director, Downtown Indiana. “We appreciate the support the state provides to organizations like ours through the PA Downtown Center and initiatives like this through the newly proposed Main Street Matters program.”

“Downtown Indiana may be the nicest main street community in all of Pennsylvania, and we are proud to have Secretary Siger come to visit our amazing businesses and see our beautiful downtown firsthand,” said Mark Hilliard, President, Indiana County Chamber of Commerce. “Our downtowns provide the heartbeat of our business communities, and we are appreciative of the mission of the Main Street Matters program and eager to see how it can benefit the downtowns in our county and throughout the Commonwealth.”

Main Street Matters, which builds upon and modernizes the existing successes of the Keystone Communities program, will be administered through DCED.  The program encourages the creation of partnerships between the public and private sectors that support the growth and stability of neighborhoods and communities; social and economic diversity; and a strong and secure quality of life. Local governments, redevelopment and housing authorities, nonprofit organizations, community development corporations, and business, neighborhood, and downtown improvement districts are all eligible to apply for this grant funding.

“We are proud of the many great communities we have in Indiana County. Investments in main street programs help small towns overcome hurdles, beautify and enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors,” said Representative Jim Struzzi. “We have been fortunate to see great results from these types of programs in the past and look forward to future opportunities.”